title: Inhaled salbutamol does not affect athletic performance in asthmatic and non-asthmatic cyclists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salbutamol may affect lung function and exercise performance differently in individuals with and without asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of inhaled salbutamol on lung function, exercise performance and respiratory parameters during cycling exercise in athletes with a positive response to a eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH+) and negative (EVH-) challenge, indicative of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomised controlled trial with a crossover design, a total of 49 well-trained male athletes (14 EVH+ and 35 EVH-) performed two simulated 10 km time-trials on a cycle ergometer 60 min after the inhalation of either 400 μg of salbutamol or a placebo. Lung function, assessed by forced expiratory volume in 1 s, was measured immediately before and 30 min after inhalation. Performance was measured by mean power output.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite a significant increase in lung function after the inhalation of salbutamol compared to the placebo (p<0.001), salbutamol did not affect athletes' perceptions of dyspnoea (p>0.05) or leg exertion (p>0.05) during exercise. Salbutamol did not affect mean power output: EVH+ and EVH- athletes averaged 4.0 (0.5) and 4.1 (0.5) W/kg after salbutamol and 4.0 (0.5) W/kg and 4.0 (0.4) W/kg after placebo, respectively (p>0.05 for each comparison).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inhalation of salbutamol induced a significant increase in resting lung function in EVH+ and EVH- athletes but this improvement in lung function did not translate to improved exercise performance. Salbutamol had no discernible effect on key ventilatory and exercise parameters regardless of EVH challenge outcome.
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: MacInnis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Canadian Sport Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sporer
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rupert
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Koehle
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000420:Albuterol
keywords: Cardiovascular; Cycling; Doping; Elite performance; Respiratory